Advance Review – season 1 two hour premiere
Airdate: Sunday, June 19, 2011 9PM E/P on TNT
Rating:
Maxim Knight as Ben Mason
From the mouths of babes comes an unfiltered, vivid, and emotional description of the aftermath from an alien attack. As the first hour opens, crayon colored pictures depict gruesome accounts of people – parents, siblings, and friends – who’ve all perished. We also learn the aliens are putting a strange spinal harness on the teenagers they’ve taken captive. What it all means, we don’t know just yet.
I’ll admit, when I first heard of Falling Skies, I was a bit skeptical of the premise which has a similar “alien invasion” vibe as the ABC’s V series. As a huge fan of the original television series V in the 80’s I haven’t been able to get into ABC’s revamped remake. Falling Skies, however, isn’t a remake of anything. Far from it. It has an originality all its own, yet something familiar that allows the audience to become engaged. The similarities of V and Falling Skies – alien invasion, people joining the resistance against the aliens, aliens taking humans for an unknown purpose – are there but what I find that differentiates Falling Skies from V is that it goes deeper into the logic of both human and alien nature. It’s familiar but somehow very different. How did the aliens learn so much about military strategy? Were they watching Earth for a long time before they invaded? Can the humans find a way to communicate effectively with the aliens in hopes of coexisting? If the 80’s version of V and the movie District 9 had a love child, it would be Falling Skies. It’s not exact in the premises or storylines but rather, a unique blending of both—two species (humans and aliens) both thinking their race is superior.
L-R: Weaver, Hal, Ben, Tom, Matt, and Anne
Part one of the two-hour premiere, “Live and Learn,” is set in Boston where we meet the men, women, and children of the 2nd Mass (an Army regiment based in Massachusetts). The humans are divided into Fighters and Civilians. Fighters are men, women, and even some teenagers experienced with weapons who go on missions and engage in combat with the aliens. The Civilians are non-military types but have many useful skills to aid in the survival of the human race. The aliens are known as Skitters and Mechs. Skitters is the nickname given to the six-legged lizard-like creatures that appear to be drones or scouts seeking out more teenagers to capture for an unknown purpose. Mechs are large two-legged robots equipped with guns and missiles that accompany the Skitters on missions.
Noah Wyle as Tom Mason
Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) is a history professor and second in command of the 2nd Mass. I think Wyle fits perfectly in this role. He’s very convincing as the everyday man forced to take on the position of a soldier while under duress given the current circumstances. He’s also the father of three sons, Hal (Drew Roy), Ben (Connor Jessup), and Matt (Maxim Knight). Ben, the middle son, has been taken by the aliens and harnessed. Tom, although not a trained soldier, has extensive knowledge of military history and has proven to be a vital asset to Col. Porter (Dale Dye). Captain Weaver (Will Patton) is in command over the 2nd Mass. Patton gives a stern and compelling performance as a man who has lost everything but doggedly continues the fight. He’s hardened himself to the reality of losing his family. He’s a salty, grizzled man who appears surly, yet you can see the depth of his pain and despair but there’s also hope in his eyes that goes beyond the surface.
L-R: Seychelle Gabriel as Lourdes and Moon Bloodgood as Anne
Moon Bloodgood is Dr. Anne Glass, a pediatrician who’s now the general practitioner/surgeon for everyone. She’s also lost everything, including her son, so she immerses herself into her work to occupy her thoughts. I loved Bloodgood in Terminator Salvation and her portrayal of Dr. Glass, a courageous yet guarded woman, is outstanding. You empathize with her and feel the genuine kindness she emanates. There’s an obvious attraction between Anne and Tom but it’s subdued. There isn’t any overt sexual undertone, but rather a genuine fondness for one another. I think they both feel survivor’s guilt, which may be a hindrance to any progression of a potentially romantic relationship. It’s another aspect that should entice viewers – where will this relationship go?
L-R: Drew Roy as Hal and Jessy Schram as Karen
Hal is Tom’s eldest son and a Fighter for the 2nd Mass. He’s only 17 but has had no choice but to grow up fast in light of the invasion. He also has several ladies vying for his attention – Karen (Jessy Schram), a tough chick who knows way too much about weaponry and explosives; Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel), a first year pre-med student who’s helping Dr. Glass with the medical needs of the people; and adding more of a twist to this love triangle is Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter), a brazen yet feminine tomboy who has endured her fair share of hardship and pain and knows how to handle weapons.
Margaret is an unwilling member of a group of marauders led by the charismatic John Pope (Collin Cunningham). Pope is an interesting character. Coincidentally, he has his own personal nickname for the aliens. It’s hilariously cheesy. I can’t decide whether he’s good or bad or both. What I do know is he’s smart, crafty, and apparently a great chef, which will serve him as well as save him later on.
Tom, Hal and the team go to the armory to search for weapons and ammo
Part two, “The Armory,” continues the mission of the 2nd Mass as they go in search of more weapons and ammo. While they scout for munitions, Tom, Hal and their team meet up with Pope’s gang of marauders. It seems Pope has been watching the 2nd Mass and is eager to get his hands on some of their weaponry and a vintage car.
This two-hour premiere does a wonderful job of establishing the story and some of the character backgrounds without putting all the marbles in one bag. We get insight into the struggles of the 2nd Mass coping with the strained circumstances as they search for provisions. When they take refuge in an abandoned high school, you witness human compassion shine and kindness thrive simultaneously with greed and shallow wants permeating those who seek to take advantage of the vulnerable situation at hand. Racism and stereotyping are also emphasized. It’s a very well-rounded and realistic depiction of the various personalities of the surviving humans.
Collin Cunningham as John Pope
There are other supporting characters we meet in the premiere who are vital to the evolution of the storylines.
Recurring Characters:
Dai (Peter Shinkoda) Dai is Tom’s right-hand man during missions. He’s great on a motorcycle, too.
Anthony (Mpho Koahu) a former Boston police officer, he is one of the best fighters in the 2nd Mass.
Col. Porter (Dale Dye) is the commander of the Massachusetts regiments, including the 2nd Mass. He is Weaver’s commanding officer.
Scott & Kate Gordon (Bruce Gray and Lynne Deragon) are Anne’s uncle and aunt. In their 70s, it doesn’t stop them from keeping busy and being a vital part of the civilian community of 2nd Mass.
Mike (Martin Roach), a fighter in the 2nd Mass and a father of a teenage son, Rick, who has also been taken captive by the aliens. Mike is a standup guy but sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him, clouding his judgment at times.
L-R: Inside one of the classrooms at JFK High School, Capt. Weaver (Will Patton) talks to Tom (Noah Wyle) about going to the armory
Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl) is Mike’s son. Before the alien invasion and being taken, Rick spent more time in the hospital – he was born with cystic fibrosis.
Jimmy Boland (Dylan Authors) is a 13 year old boy who tries to prove he’s ready to become a resistance fighter for the 2nd Mass.
Sarah (Melissa Kramer) is a pregnant civilian. She became pregnant through artificial insemination just six weeks before the invasion. She does what she can to help out in the camp but I think her unborn child is a symbol of hope for the human race’s continued existence.
I won’t give away any spoilers at the bequest of the network, but I will tell you this show is worth watching. It’s compelling, thought-provoking, gripping, action-packed, and just good drama from the people who know drama. The writing is superb. Award winning executive producer Steven Spielberg, show creator/executive producer/writer Robert Rodat, and executive producer/writer Graham Yost (also creator/executive producer of FX’s hit drama Justified) give us a powerful new series I think will become the next TV addiction.
Falling Skies is set to air over eight weeks so tune in to the two-hour season premiere on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 9PM E/P (the show will then move to Sundays at 10PM E/P).
Photos courtesy of © TNT “We Know Drama,” All Rights Reserved
For more on Falling Skies go to http://www.tnt.tv/series/fallingskies.
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Judy Manning
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